Eureka Police Department press release:

On 12-20-2014 at approximately 8:38 am, Officers were dispatched to the vicinity of the 2700 block of M Street on a report of a suspicious person. The caller reported a subject walking around the neighborhood and through the alleyways. The caller believed the subject’s actions were suspicious and believed the subject may be casing the neighborhood. 

Officers began searching the vicinity and located a subject matching the description provided by the caller near the 500 block of Carson Street. The subject, identified as Zachary Miller (19 years old, Eureka), was found to be in possession of burglary tools and a large amount of mail. The mail was from various locations east of where Miller was located. The owner of the some of the mail was contacted and he explained to officers that he found his mailbox open this morning and noticed his mail was missing. 

Miller was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools.

During the ongoing investigation additional stolen property associated with several car burglaries, some reported and other not reported to EPD, were found to be possessed by Miller. Officers are following up with the victims of these thefts to ensure their property is returned. 

The Eureka Police Department urges citizens to be vigilant observers in their neighborhoods. This is the second incident in a week were an observant citizen noticed something that appeared suspicious, reported it to EPD, and we have been able to locate, arrest, and book the offenders. More importantly we have been able to return items to the victims, which included documents, cell phones, and Christmas cards. 

Anyone who observes suspicious activities in their neighborhoods are urged to report them to the Eureka Police Department at 707-441-4044.